Cingular Wireless announced today it has shattered its own record for wireless text messaging during the fifth season of "American Idol." Cingular recorded more than 64.5 million text messages throughout the show's season, breaking last year's record of 41.5 million text messages. Text messages include votes, trivia, sweepstakes entries, TXT chats, fan club and vote number reminder.

"We are pleased to have played a role in what was another great season of 'American Idol'," said John Burbank, vice president of marketing, Cingular Wireless. "We knocked Idol-related text messaging out of the ballpark and added another home run with our Live Idol Tones which capitalized on the passion 'American Idol' fans have for their favorite contestants."

Cingular customers also had exclusive wireless access to "American Idol" throughout the season with services including TXT chats with Idol contestants, and convenient vote number reminders listing all of the "American Idol" contestants who performed that week. In addition, Cingular customers also connected to the show through the Idol Wireless Fan Club which let them keep up with the latest Idol news, play Idol Trivia on their wireless devices or download "American Idol"-related ringtones such as the show's theme song, or songs from former Idol winners and contestants.

In the photo: American Idol 2006 Taylor Hicks